C.I. Jerez
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez
Author of At the Island’s Edge
AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN RETURNS TO PUERTO RICO TO RECONNECT WITH—AND CONFRONT―THE PAST IN A HEART-WRENCHING NOVEL ABOUT DUTY, MOTHERHOOD, AND THE HEALING POWER OF HOME.
As a combat medic, Lina LaSalle went to Iraq to save the lives of fellow soldiers. But when her convoy is attacked, she must set aside her identity as a healer and take a life herself.
Although she is honored as a hero when she returns to the US, Lina cannot find her footing. She is stricken with PTSD and unsure of how to support her young son, Teó, a brilliant, loving little boy with Tourette’s. As her attempts to self-medicate become harder to hide, Lina realizes she must do the toughest thing yet: ask for help.
She retreats to her parents’ house in Puerto Rico, where Teó thrives under her family’s care. Lina finds kinship, too―with a cousin whose dreams were also shattered by the war and with a charming and compassionate veteran from South Carolina who also sought refuge on the island and runs a neighborhood bar.
But amid the magic of the island are secrets and years of misunderstandings that could erode the very stability she’s fighting for. Hope lies on the horizon, but can she keep her gaze steady?
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez
Author I draw inspiration from:
Jodi Picoult. She isn’t afraid to delve deep. My favorite book of hers is Nineteen Minutes. My top 3 all-time favorite books are: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni, and My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
My living room La-Z-boy with my feet propped up and my two dogs snuggled beside me.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Lucky Santangelo from the Jackie Collins novels. She’d have a totally cool head that would immediately calm my anxieties. Plus, I’d try not to freak out in front of a woman who is always cool under pressure. I’d pick her brain about her rise to strength in a male-dominated world.
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
When I began devouring Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley Twins and Ann Martin’s The Baby-Sitter’s Club in the third grade, I kept imagining the day I’d grow up and write books that people would rush to the library or bookstore to read, just like I was doing with both series.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
All of the above.
I love the regality of a home library filled with hardbacks from authors I love, the quick convenience and well-worn feel of a well-loved paperback, the travel convenience and endless variety within the ebook, and the cinematic, my-driving-time-alone-is-never-boring, convenience of an audiobook.
The last book I read:
It isn’t the last book I read, but it’s been my favorite this year and added to my all-time favorites list: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I love that her prose is short and simple but incredibly powerful. The elements she focuses on, whether its character or setting, are purposeful and force you to feel the moment, the climate, and the culture of the times. It is a beautiful book that delves boldly into a woman's heart, even when she is very young. I cannot wait to read the next three in the Neapolitan series.
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Both. I always jump to pen & paper when I’m stuck creatively. It’s the best tool for a wide-open stream of consciousness where I feel free just to let loose and see where the pen and my wildest imagination can take me. Pens and paper make me feel like a young girl again, and whenever I invite in that spirit of “play,” I get my most creative. The computer is when I’m getting down to business. It’s the teacher in the classroom. It keeps me structured and sound, and honestly, I can’t imagine writing a book without it. While I love the idea of a typewriter, it would be a disaster for me. I’ve been known to write and rewrite a paragraph over twenty times until I feel it’s finally saying what I intended. The poor trees on this planet if I ever tried honing my craft on a typewriter. So, either a pen or a computer suits me best, each with its own distinct purpose.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Elena Greco from My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I relate to her thoughts about the academic world. I, like her, did very well in school but had to work hard. The same thing goes for my writing. I don’t have effortless natural gifts in the areas I love most—I must work hard. I also find her introspective nature very similar to my own, and she observes the world through the eyes of an author. I understand that at a very visceral level.
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Becoming an author is my dream. Nothing else compares, and I’ve waited half my life to make it happen. But… if I didn’t write books (unfathomable), I think I would have liked to paint watercolors around the world like Devon Rodriguez or maybe become an actress or a backup dancer for JLO. [Laughing] My deepest passions are clearly for the arts.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
My favorite style tends to be very exercise oriented. I love Adidas tracksuits, Yoga two-pieces, leggings, and tank tops—anything that allows me to move freely at any point in my day and break into a light jog or a few stretches. So, I’d have to say modern wear of the 21st century suits me best. However, I do love to get dressed up for a good night on the town, and the 1950s cocktail-style dresses are my favorite.
Place I’d most like to travel:
This changes with the seasons. Right now, I’m dreaming about going on a cruise up the New England coast toward Canada in the fall and just taking in the beautiful crisp air and changing leaves of that area. Barcelona still holds the number 1 spot for my favorite European city. I always feel like I’ve arrived home when I go there.
My signature drink:
I drink black coffee and ice water daily and Coke Zero when I decide to splurge. On the special occasion that I order a cocktail, it’s ‘Scotch on the Rocks.’
All my creativity pours into my craft as a writer. I’m straightforward and anti-sweet when it comes to what I drink.
Favorite artist:
Steve Hanks for watercolors, Thomas Kinkade, and Stephen Muldoon for landscapes.
Number one on my bucket list:
I dream of spending 8 months abroad in Europe—2 months in Paris, 2 months in Barcelona, 2 months in Dublin, and 2 months in Rome.
I’d also like to do one of those 4-month cruises around the world one day.
Anything else you'd like to add:
I’m so thankful for the readers out there. My focus on building a career on writing was always on developing the skill and the fortitude to write a good book. Now I realize that none of it matters without the readers in the world giving their time and effort to support the author and being willing to lose themselves in the world you’ve created. I’ve been a reader all my life, but I didn’t understand the importance of making time for reading until I realized the lives of the authors impacted when I picked up their books.
Find more from the author:
Facebook: C.I. Jerez https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083323098173
Instagram: C.I._Jerezhttps://www.instagram.com/c.i._jerez/
About C.I. Jerez:
Author Interview - C.I. Jerez
C.I. Jerez is a proud Latina who was born in Miami. Her mother, a native New Yorker, blessed her with both Puerto Rican and Irish roots, while her father, a Cuban immigrant, inspired her to embrace the culture of the Caribbean. These multicultural influences, including growing up on the West Texas border in El Paso, have shaped her desire to bring Latina and Latino characters to life in her stories.
After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she commissioned as a signal officer in the US Army and rose to the rank of Major before transitioning out of the military. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a doctorate in international business from Liberty University. When not writing, she serves as cofounder and vice president for Ashire Technologies & Services Inc., a cybersecurity firm specializing in securing federal information systems. She lives in central Florida. For more information, visit www.cijerezbooks.com.
